Clarity And Balance: Dropping The Objections

There's a certain clarity that can arise when equanimity is present and we drop our objections to the present moment and our doubts about our own good hearts. From there it's possible to drop into life in the fullest and most powerful way, looking inside and remembering the intentions to be present and do no harm, and then looking up, rolling up our sleeves, and getting to the work of saving our small corner of the world.

Transcript

Hello,

Everyone.

It's Judy Cohen.

This is Wake Up Call number 302.

And this Wake Up Call is dedicated to the memory of George Floyd and all the other Black men and women who have been victims of police violence in the US and all people everywhere who are in danger,

Whose rights or privileges are impacted because they're not a member of whatever dominant group is,

Wherever they are.

So I've been sharing ground,

Which is an equanimity practice,

And one that I'm liking because it's it's providing me with a lot of clarity.

So if you were here several weeks ago,

I was talking about the definitions of equanimity and how important both types are for us in the law.

UPECA to look over to see the big picture with clarity,

Seeing that no matter what we wish for others,

The things they choose to say and do will determine how things go for them.

And we can't change that.

And many times things don't go the way we want.

Even though we work really hard and we do a great job.

And that's because other factors,

Other conditions have also given rise to whatever has happened.

So for example,

Defending someone accused of a crime or representing someone in a dispute.

We do our best on the verdict or the motion or the judgment goes against our client or there's a student.

And we do our best with them and they still do poorly in a class.

And countless possible factors have contributed to this.

And so UPECA is seeing this clearly and then of course taking whatever action,

Maybe very fierce action is needed,

But first seeing this clearly.

And then Tatramajatata,

Which is standing in a balanced way in the fire of things.

And to me,

This is kind of the definition of practicing and teaching law.

To stand at the podium,

To stand in a conference room or at a screen or to sit at a screen,

To be in the intensity and not lose our balance,

To be grounded and connected,

Including to everyone involved.

And to be able to be a source of strength and wisdom in heat of the moment in the fire of the world.

So ground is seeing more clearly when I wish I could do more or change something for someone else in the world and I'm doing everything I can.

And there are other causes and conditions that prevail and standing in the fire of this incendiary profession and in the middle of a world that's on fire and staying grounded and balanced.

So G ground,

Touch into the earth and connect with one another and remember that every human,

Every being we know of is on the earth or under it or flying above it,

But connected with the earth.

So we're all connected directly,

Physically with one another,

Not a metaphysical exploration.

We just are connected by this earth.

And then R,

Rest.

Yesterday I got to workshop ground with some of the 2020 Mindfulness in Law teacher training grads.

And one colleague said,

Lawyers never rest,

Which is so true.

And actually I want to circle back to that because it's a big question.

How can we bring rest into the law,

I think.

But for now,

R,

Rest can be as simple as take one breath and rest while you're taking that breath or rest on one out breath even.

And then O,

Open to whatever demons are present no matter whether they're exhaustion or exasperation or aggravation or whatever is there.

And then you unclench and let go in the face of those demons.

Don't get identified with them as in I'm always angry.

Don't make this a self-improvement project by trying to wish them away so that you can become something like less angry.

Just unclench and let go and say these are my demons.

Hello,

I love you.

As Mary Oliver said,

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert,

Repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair,

Yours,

And I will tell you mine.

And meanwhile the world goes on.

And then N,

Notice how you're doing.

And someone else yesterday suggested that N feels like taking a step back and noticing from the perspective of the observer.

Which is right the way we see pretty clearly if we're honest with ourselves.

We see when we're happy.

We see when we're depressed.

And we see whether we're trying to make things different than they are.

And we have a natural human ability to do this.

And I don't know maybe other beings have this ability too.

I just watched my occupational teacher which is so good.

Watch it if you can.

And now I'm not convinced other beings don't have this ability as well.

But really this natural human ability at least to see in our solitary,

To see in a moment,

In any moment how we're doing and whether we're trying to make things different than they are.

And we have that natural ability but our solitary mindfulness practice increases that natural ability.

Because during solitary practice that's what we're practicing isn't it?

I mean we're practicing noticing experience moment by moment with courage,

With grace and without trying to change it or deny it or wish it were different and without trying to be better.

Right?

Just noticing.

So here's the last letter D.

G R O U N D.

D stands for drop.

First drop the objections.

Don't object to anything.

I once heard Jack Kornfield talking about one of his teachers who was asked what he did when strong negative emotions arose for him and he said,

I agree.

I agree.

So just agreeing with our own experience,

Dropping any objections to what's happening moment to moment.

So that's the first drop and then also drop any thoughts that you're not doing enough.

Any sense of not enoughness at all.

Any doubt in your self,

In your practice,

In your own good heart.

Drop any doubt in your ability to create a better world just by virtue of your practice plus everything else you're doing.

Right?

And then if you look at it G R O U N are about looking in into our own hearts.

And D is about dropping our objections to the present and any doubt about our ability to really be the change.

And then last drop any obstacles to rolling up your sleeves and doing whatever work has heart and meaning for you,

For your community,

For the world.

So look up.

Right?

G R O U and N are about looking in.

And then D look up and drop any obstacles to just rolling up your sleeves and doing the work that has heart,

Work that has meaning.

Drop into your own corner of the world.

See what you can do to relieve a little bit of suffering today and do it.

Don't make it a big deal.

Just do it.

So ground in the earth and in community.

Rest in the moment.

Open and see clearly what's here.

Unclench and get clear about your demons,

Your own good,

Generous heart and your hard working hands.

Notice from the place of the observer,

Which is where there is that great equanimity and clarity about what you can do and can't do and about how to stay in the fire of things.

Drop anything that's not useful,

Including any doubts,

Any obstacles at all,

Any objections,

And then go out and make the wisest and most heartfelt contribution you can,

No matter how small.

Okay,

Let's sit.

So finding your seat,

If it is a sit for you or maybe it's a walk,

Maybe you're standing,

Maybe you're lying down,

Just dropping into whatever posture you're in.

Really settling in.

Sensing the earth,

Sensing your connection,

Our connection.

There's about 34 of us here today,

So connecting to one another.

And just giving yourself permission for the next eight or nine minutes to rest.

And to really be open to whatever shows up.

And unclench,

Let go of any concerns that what shows up isn't what should be here or that you should be doing or saying or being anything different,

Better,

Calmer,

More focused,

More settled,

More engaged,

All that,

Let it go.

And right now you can step back and just become the observer.

And notice from the perspective of the observer the clarity of your own mind,

How everything is really just coming and going,

All of experience just coming and going.

And any doubt that arises,

Just drop it.

Any objections to the practice or to anything that you notice,

Just drop it.

Drop them.

Hit it.

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